Donna Kennedy-Glans asks to rejoin PC government

Calgary-Varsity MLA said on Tuesday that she wants to rejoin the Progressive Conservative government.

Photograph by: Lorraine Hjalte Lorraine Hjalte
, Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald

After leaving the Tory caucus in spring to sit as an independent — and criticizing her own party’s sense of entitlement on the way out of cabinet — Calgary-Varsity MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans has asked to rejoin the Progressive Conservative government.

Kennedy-Glans said Tuesday that after consulting with people in her riding and watching the PC leadership race unfold, she’s decided to try to rejoin the PC caucus and help with the party’s renewal.

“It is what my constituents want and that’s pretty important to me,” she said in an interview.

“I know when I crossed the floor and went independent in March, I did it because they were expecting action. They wanted to see some change and understood leaving cabinet and caucus would drive that change — and it did.

“But what they’re saying now is they are seeing some change, they’re seeing new leadership.”

Last spring, Kennedy-Glans made headlines when she quit cabinet to sit as an independent MLA, declaring she was “increasingly convinced that elements of this 43-year-old government are simply unable to make the changes needed.”

Redford resigned later that week. A new party leader will be selected by PC members in September.

At the time, Kennedy-Glans was the Tories’ associate minister of electricity and renewable energy, having been appointed to cabinet in December.

Unlike fellow PC MLA Len Webber, who directly assailed the premier’s own leadership style when he also left the caucus in March, Kennedy-Glans didn’t target Redford.

Instead, she spoke out against top-down management, the government’s lack of fiscal discipline and a culture of entitlement within the PC party, “a sense of people believing that because they’ve been affiliated with the party they have ... some special voice or special place.”

She also criticized the government’s contentious labour legislation and Bill 1 “with a $200-million slush fund in it,” referring to the Alberta Future Fund intended for major projects.

On Tuesday, the first-term MLA noted the party’s three leadership candidates — Jim Prentice, Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk — are all talking about how the Tory government should make proper decisions, and they have committed to running an open and transparent government.

Kennedy-Glans said she has contacted most of the Tory MLAs and expects government members will vote in a secret ballot on her request to join caucus in early September.

She doesn’t believe her decision to quit the government last spring will be viewed as disloyalty to the party, “given the facts that were in place in March of this year.”

Kennedy-Glans noted many other Tory MLAs were also considering their future at the time, as caucus pressure was building on Redford to leave.

“I have no regrets about what I did,” she said. “I think it was the catalyst for positive change.”

As for the leadership contest, Kennedy-Glans said she supports several of the policies of former federal cabinet minister Prentice, particularly around the environment, energy and seniors’ issues.

Webber, who also left the government in the spring, said Tuesday he has not had any thoughts about rejoining the PC caucus.

A longtime MLA for Calgary-Foothills, Webber said he’s preparing to run for the federal Conservative party nomination in Calgary Confederation, while also staying busy working in his constituency.

“Absolutely a new leader is a huge improvement, that’s for darn sure ... it certainly does make the PC caucus appealing to many,” he said.

“People have asked me that now that Redford is gone, are you going to go back? I think I can best serve my constituents as an independent right now.”

Veteran Calgary-Fort MLA Wayne Cao said he doesn’t expect Kennedy-Glans will have any problems getting back into the Tory caucus.

While Kennedy-Glans questioned problems in the party and government last March, Cao doesn’t think his colleagues will hold that against her, noting the Tory leadership is changing and MLAs are more involved in the government’s decision-making process.

“I’m in favour because she was a good MLA representing her constituency, she’s capable, has a lot of experience,” he said. “Now it’s the next page, next chapter.”

However, political analyst David Taras of Mount Royal University said it’s not clear if all of the government caucus will be quite so willing to forgive and forget some of the comments of the Calgary-Varsity MLA.

“Presumably she’s done her homework and will be well-received,” Taras said. “How does everyone else react? ... Where was she when the party needed her? Some people may be asking that question.”

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